Review – Wonder Woman: Earth One

­Grant Morrison returns to DC this month with Wonder Woman: Earth One the latest addition to the Earth One series. It is a re-imagining of the Amazonian hero’s origin inspired by the feminist ideals that Morrison so admired in his mother.

When US pilot Steve Trevor crash lands on the Amazonian island of Themyscira, it inspires an already rebellious Princess Diana to venture into man’s world. Will her refusal to obey the traditions of her people lead to the destruction of everything they hold dear, or can she be a catalyst for positive change?

Morrison was, at least partly, inspired to do a Wonder Woman book by the guilt resulting from his poor treatment of her in Final Crisis. If he didn’t understand the character then, he certainly does now. Diana’s journey, from curious rebel to wise ambassador, happens within the confines 110 pages, but never feels anything less than completely genuine. She lives a life of emotional bondage, forbidden by her mother Hippolyta from fulfilling her true potential on the Island, or using it for good in the outside world. Hippolyta and the Amazons (Amazons or Amazonians?) have been scarred by the trauma suffered thousands of years ago at the hands of Hercules, but Diana was born without that wound. Her struggle to break the bonds imposed on her by her sisters holds a mirror up to the century long fight by women to establish their rightful place as societal equals.

You might expect a story burdened by important yet weighty metaphors to be a serious affair, but the real genius of the book is how Morrison has managed to craft a socially pertinent tale that is also uproariously fun. This is due in no small part to Wonder Woman’s supporting cast, especially Steve Trevor and Beth Candy. Both in their own way are inspirations to Diana. Trevor is a black Airforce pilot, but though he is a military man, he has retained his individual sense of right and wrong. He manages to be an important catalyst for Diana’s adventure, without ever overshadowing the star. Beth is a force of nature whose personality instantly endearing her to both Diana and the stern Hippolyta. It is Beth that helps Diana navigate the 21st century world, and it is Beth’s intoxicating enthusiasm that convinces Diana that the world is worth saving.

Yanick Paquette provides the art for Wonder Woman: Earth One. It is simply stunning. Every character design is meticulously conceived and every pose purposeful. There is not a line out of place. He has been asked to draw his fair share of bathing suit supermodels here, but manages to make each one as individual as the next. He has taken the patterns and motifs of the ancient world and evolved them over three thousand years to produce clothing and architectural designs that are at once classical and modern. In combination with Nathan Fairbairn’s sumptuous colours, it is visually breath-taking. A masterpiece.

Wonder Woman: Earth One is a startlingly brilliant addition to a line that has been blessed with innovative story telling. Every facet of this book has almost universal appeal which, for a tale that is about immortal bondage lesbians, is the greatest indication of Grant Morrison’s genius yet. It is the definition of a five star comic.